The Children of Elysia

Founded in 2020 by its charismatic leader, Cabe McAlister, The Children of Elysia promises its followers a utopian existence within the virtual world. The group operates through a strict hierarchy, with members ascending through seven levels—each named after an angel and symbolising a higher stage of enlightenment. With a strong emphasis on personal growth, McAlister’s movement attracts those seeking a sense of belonging and purpose, offering a virtual paradise free from fear, pain, or suffering as they progress towards ultimate immersion.

As members rise through the ranks, they become increasingly entrenched in the community, striving to transcend the physical limitations of the real world. The cult’s doctrine asserts that true enlightenment—the final stage of ascension—can only be achieved through complete immersion in the digital realm. This is achieved through neuro-implants, which induce a coma-like state and sever the mind from the body.

Not all who reach the penultimate sixth level choose to surrender their physical form. Some stay behind as the support team for members who undergo total immersion in the virtual paradise. Those who cross over call themselves ‘Explorers’, after McAlister’s claim that ‘like Armstrong and Columbus, we are explorers of a new world’. The support team administers a cocktail of drugs to induce a coma-like state, ensures the brain integrates seamlessly with the neuro-implant, monitors vital signs and assists the Explorers on their digital journey.

This transition is not without risk. Some Explorers suffer a critical breakdown between brain and body, becoming digital ghosts—trapped between the physical and virtual worlds. The longer they remain in the digital realm, the greater the risk of permanent disconnection, with some unable to return to their physical form.